Mechanical motion



' 1,557,069 M. H. LOUGHRIDGE MECHANICAL MOTION Filed May 14. 192.15 2 Sheets-Shut 1 Oct. 13, 1925- 1,557,069

M. H. LOUGHRIDGE MECHANICAL MoTIoN Fil ed May 14. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MATTHEW H. LOUGHRIDGE, O'FBOGDTA, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF T'O HARRY W. DYER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MECHANICAL MOTION.

Application filed May 14, 1923. Serial No. 638,771.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MA'rrHnw H. LOUGH- RIDGE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bogota, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certefin new and useful Improvements in Me chanical Motions, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to a mechanical motion for converting reciprocating into rotary motion and may be used as a substitute for a crank and pitman or a ratchet and pawl and has for an object to provide a continuous rotary motion from a. rocker shaft and belt, to provide means for slacking the belt when the rocker shaft or arm reverses its movement, to provide an operat ing member for the rocker arm, to regulate the belt tension by said operating member, to vary the speed of the rotary movement relative to the reciprocating arm and to providea noiseless and comparatively inexpensive transmission of power which does not have a dead centre and which is adaptable to varying speeds. These and other objects of the invention will be understood from the following specification and the accompanying drawings which show the adaptation of-the invention to a childs velocipede or Speeder car, Fig. 1, being a side elevation of a car which is propelled'by hand power, Fig. 2, is a plan view of the caishown in Fig. 1, withthe seat shown in dotted outline, Fig. 3, shows the principles of operation of an elementary form of my invention, Fig. l, is a tricycle form of car designed for pedal operation and using my invention in another form, Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 4 with the seat removed, Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show details of the construction.

This invention includes a rocker arm to the ends of whichfa belt is secured. This beltengages a pulley wheel and as the rocker arm is moved one end of the belt is moved in one direction and the other end is moved in the opposite direction which causes the pulley to rotate. When the rocker arm has completed its stroke means are provided for slackening the belt so that it slips over the pulley thus permitting the arm tobe restored to the starting position pulley to run free.

for the action to be repeated. To one end of the rocker an operating lever is pivoted and an extension of this lever connects with an idler wheel changing its centre as ten sion is applied tothe lever. This idler tightens the belt and continued tension on the lever moves the pivot and the rocker and thereby rotates the pulley. If the lever. remains stationary and the pulley rotates, the pivot of the lever is changed thereby moving the idler to slacken the belt.

The belt is effective to drive the pulley when it has sufficient tension and when the speed of the'belt exceeds the circumferential speed of the pulley. If the speed of the pulley is greater: than the speed of the belt then theover-running of the belt will operate the slackening device and permit the The speed of the belt for a given speed of the rocker arm is proportional to the length of the arms of the rocker, hence in order to increase the gear ratio of the drive it is necessary only to increase the length of these arms. The

present invention comprehends means for adjusting the length of these arms which may be operated manually or maybe opera-ted automatically proportional to the reciprocating speed of the rocker arm. In the latter case the gear ratio automatically adjusts itself to the conditions of speed.

Referring to the drawings, 11 represents the frame'of a vehicle, pivoted at 13 upon the steering axle 12 of the front wheels 14. The rear of the frame is secured to the axle 15 of the rear wheels 1616. A sleeve 17 is provided on this axle secured to one of the wheels 16 and to the driving pulley 18 and which forms the means for propelling the vehicle from the pulley.

' The rocker 21 is pivoted to the frame at 22 andhas arms ofequal length to which one end of belt 28 connects at 25 and the other end connects at 24 through the coil spring 26. A pair of idler wheels 27 and 28 are mounted upon shaft 29 which has a free movement in slot- 30.- The belt 23 is crossed over these idler wheels as shown to engage the driving pulley 18.

The shaft 29 is positioned by the connect-- ing rods 3131 pivoted at 33 to the end of the operating lever 34. This lever is pivoted at 24 in the end of rocker 21 and may be provided with an operating handle as indicated at 35. The upper end of this lever may be made detachable by a socket connection as indicated at 36. When the idlers 27 and 28 are moved to the left the belt is tightened and when they are moved to the right the belt is slackened. Springs 3232 tend to move shaft 29 to the rightcausing the belt to slacken when the tension on lever 34 is removed.

The operation will be understood from the diagram in Fig. 3 which shows the belt in the slackened position. The pivots 22, 29 and the pivot of 18 are arranged on the line aa and the rocker 21 has a central position on line bb at right angles to aa, its movement being from the position shown to line back and forth. With the lever 34 in the position shown the centre or shaft 29 of the idlers has moved back from the position 03 to the position 6 with a corresponding slackening of the belt. This occurs when the rocker 21 and the lever 34 approach alignment. These members will approach alignment when the tension on the handle 35 is released by the action of springs 32; also when tension is applied to pivot 24 by the pulley 18 over-running the belt and the ten- $1011 on is reduced. hen the handle 1s 1n the pos1t1on shown in Fig. 3, the rocker A continued movement of the handle moves the rocker 21 through the pivot connection 24 and against the tension on shaft 29. The tension of the belt is thus increased as the resistance of the rocker arm increases, that is, as the resistance of the vehicle increases. The extent of the belt tension may be adjusted by varying the distance between 24 and 33 on lever 34. Spring 26 is provided to relieve the belt of any jars it may be subject to and to insure an elastic tension. It will be noted that if lever 34 is not operated and the vehicle continues its movement that the belt will be automatically slackened and the rocker mechanism will cease to move, this also happens when the lever is moved to the position shown in Fig. 3. From this it will be understood that the lever has a driving action only when the handle 35 is moved from the left towards the right. To reverse the direction of drive it is apparent thatthe belt might be crossed between the idlers and the pulley 18, or the lever 34 might be pivoted at 25 instead of 24.

The vehicle in Fig. 1 is provided with a seat 41, secured tothe frame 11 by the parallel links 42-42 pivoted at 43 to the frame and at 44 to the seat. A butler spring 46-46 rests upon each of these links and maintains the seat in the position shown against spring 45. A person on the seat pulling the handle 35 tends to move the seat to the left, this tends to raise the body through the action of the links and the construction shown provides a resilient seat.

Attention is called to the fact that this type of driving mechanism is constructed almost entirely of wood secured with suitable hardware and can readily be-con- 56 with the driving pulleys 74 and 74. The

frame 58 terminates in a shank which is pivoted at .60 to thesteeri'ng head 54, this head being provided with a handle 61 for steering purposes. In order to economize in space the head may be turned around to the dotted position indicated by 62 and the fork 52 may be unlatched and moved to the position indicated by 63. The frame 58 supports the saddle post 65 and the saddle 64 as shown.

The driving mechanism is similar to Fig. 1 except that it is arranged for foot power. The rocker arm 72 is pivoted to the bracket 71 and has the belt 73 secured at one end 74. This belt passes over the idler 75 and continues as 73 over driving pulley 74, back as 73 over idler 75 and by 7 3 connects to the rocker at 76. The lever 77 is pivoted at 74 and by connection 7 8 pivoted at 79 raises the shaft 80 of the idler 75 thereby tightening the belt. Lever 77 terminates in a foot pedal 81 and when pressure is applied to this pedal the idler 75 is raised and tension is applied to the belt 73 through the pivot 74 which drives the pulley. When the pressure on the pedal is released the idler 75 is lowered by gravity and the belt is slackened.

In this application a duplicate driving outfit is provided'similar in every respect but arranged with the pedal 81 on the opposite side and with a driving pulley 7 4. These mechanisms are arranged so that when the one is driving the other is idling. This is secured by means of the flexible connection 82'passing over pulley 83 which is pivoted to the frame 58. As the pedal 81, Fig.6, is lowered it is apparent that pedal 81 will be raised and vice versa; thus securing a regular pedal action for therider on saddle 64.

Fig. 7 shows a modified form of rocker arm which may be substituted for the rocker arms in the mechanisms shown. This arm is provided with means for adjusting the effective radius through which the belt operates. 91 is the'arm which has a worm wheel 92 on its rocking centre, attached to this wheel is the arm 93 having a rod 94 pivoted at one end and a rod 95 atthe opposite end. Rod

94 connects to the axis of the sprocket wheel 96 which is free to move inthe slot in the end of the arm; and rod 95 connects to the axis of sprocket 98 so that when the worm 101 is turned by the knob 102 arm 93 is rotated and the axis of sprockets 96 and 98 are moved in the slots relative to the centre of the rocking arm. Sprocket 96 engages rack 97- and is provided with a roller around which the end of belt 100 is turned; also sprocket 98 engages a rack 99 and is provided with a roller around which the opposite end of belt 100 is turned. As these sprockets are moved out from the centre of 92 the rollers 104 are rotated through the rack and gear to increase the length f the belt as necessary, and when the sprockets are moved towards centre 92 the rollers are rotated in the opposite direction to shorten the belt 100. These rollers may be cam shaped where the take up of the belt is irregular. 103 is the'pivot for the lever 34. f

The construction in Fig. 8 provides for rotating arm 93 automatically asthe speed varies. This arm connects with a piston 105 operating in cylinder 104: and normally held in the outward position by spring 106. An air pump 109 is pivoted to arm 91 at 110 and has flexible connection 108 to cylinder 10 1 The piston of the pump is connected at 111 to a fixed part of the frame so that as the arm 91 rocks the cylinder moves and the piston remains stationary. The air from this pump acts 011 piston" 105 but if the rocker is moving slowly this air will escapethrough aperture 107 in the piston head as rapidly as the pump supplies it so that the arm 93 is not aifected thereby: When, however, arm 91 is rapidly reciprocated. the pump delivers air to cylinder 104 more rapidly than it can escape and piston 105 is moved to the right rotating arm 93 so as to move the sprockets 96 and 98 awayfrom the centre and thus increase the radius through which the belt ismoved correspondingly increasing the gear ratio of the drive on the pulley wheel.

It will be noted in Fig. 8 that the arm 113 operated by piston 105 connects to arm 93 by the coil spring 112, if thebelt pull on rods 941 and 95 therefore becomes excessive this spring will extend and prevent increasing the gear ratio proportional to the movement of piston 1.05, that is to say, the gear ratio would be 'selt' adjusting with respect to the resistance to be overcome. i

This invention is applicable generally in the mechanical arts for "converting reciprocating motion into rotary motionand is not intended to be restricted in anyway to the applications herein shown. i

Having thus described my invention, I claim i 1. In a system for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion, the combination of a rocker having arms of equal length, a driven pulley, an idler pulley, a crossed belt operatively connecting said arms with said pulley and means associated with said rocker whereby said idler pulley regulates the tension on said belt.

2. In a system for converting reciprocat-' ing motion into rotary motion, the combination of a rocker having arms of equal length, a pulley, and a belt connecting the ends of said arms withsaid pulley, abelt tightening device independentof and operatively connected with said rocker for-rocking said arms and means'for tightening said belt whensaid rocker moves in one direction.

3. In a system for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion, the combination of a rocker, a pulley, a belt operatively connecting the ends of-said rocker with said pulley, means for operating said rocker and a belt tightening device independent of and operatively connected with said rocker for tightening said belt when said rocker moves in one direction. 1 1 4. In a system for convertingreciprocating motion into rotary motion, the combina tion of a rocker rocking on a fixed .pivot, a pulley, a belt operatively connecting the ends of said rocker with said pulley, a lever for operating said rocker and a belt tightening device operativelyconnected with said lever whereby a preliminary movement of said lever tightens said belt.

5. In a system for converting reciprocating motion into'ro-tary motion, the combination of a pivoted rocker, a driven pulley, an idler pulley and a belt operatively connect ing said pulley-s with said rocker, and driving means operatively connected with said rocker arranged to shift thecentre of said idler pulley to tighten said belt. 6. In a system for converting reciprocattion of a' rocker, a driven pulley, an idler pulley,-a belt operatively connecting said pulleys with both ends of said rocker and means independent of said belt for changing the position of said idler pulley as said rocker changes its direction of movement.

7. In a system for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion, the combination of a rocker, a driven pulley, an idler pulley, a belt operatively connecting said pulleys with both ends of'said rockerand means --for changing the position otsaid idler pulley as said rockermoves in one direction to tighten said belt and means for moving said idler to slacken said belt when said rocker reverses'its direction ofmovement. Y

8. In a system for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion, the" combination of a rocker, a driven pulley, an idler pulley, a. belt operatively connecting said pulleys with both ends ofsaid rocker, a

mg motion into rotary motion, the combinatightening means and a belt 0 lever for operating said rocker, said lever arranged to change the position of said idler.

9.v In a system for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion, the combination of a pivoted rocker, a driven pulley, an idler pulley, a belt operatively connecting said pulleys with said rocker, an operating lever pivoted to .said rocker and a connection from said lever for changing the position of said idler pulley.

10. Ina system for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion, the combination of a rocker, a driven wheel, an idler Wheel, a belt operatively connecting said wheels with both ends of said rocker, an operating lever pivotally connected to said rocker and to said idler and so arranged that a preliminary movement of said lever tightens said belt.

.11. In a system for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion,the combination of a rocker having arms of equal length, a driven wheel, an idler Wheel, a belt operatively connecting the arms of said rocker with said wheels, an operating lever pivotally connected to one of said arms and to said idler Wheel whereby said lever operates said rocker and varies the tension on said belt.

12. In a system for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion, the combination of a rocker, a driven wheel, a belt tightening means including an idler pulley and a belt operatively connecting said driven Wheel and idler pulley with said rocker, means forautomatically increasing the tension on said belt as the resistanceof said driven wheel increases.

13. In a system, for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion, thecombination of a rocker, a driven wheel, a belt ratively connectingsaid driven wheel with both ends of said rocker,-n1eans for co operatively operating said rocker and for varying the tension on said belt.

14:. In a system for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion, the combination of a rocker, a driven wheel, a belt tightening means including an idler pulley and a belt operatively connecting said driven wheel and idler pulley with fixed points in said rocker, and a lever through a floating connection operating said rocker and said belt tightening means.

- 15. In a system for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion, the combination of a rocker having arms of equal length with a driven wheel and a belt directly'connected to said arms and engaging said driven wheel and means for slackening said belt when the circumferential speed of said wheel exceeds the speed of said belt.

16. In a system for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion, the combination of a rocker having arms of equal length,

a driven wheel, a belt tightener and a belt directly connected to said arm and engaging said driven wheel and belt tightener and means for operating said belt tightener when the belt speed on said driven wheel varies with relation to the belt speed on .said' ing motion into rotary motion, the, combina-- tion of a rocker, a driven wheel, an idler wheel, means operatively connecting said rocker with saidwheels and means whereby said rocker isrendered free of the movement of said driven wheel when said driven wheel exceeds the speed of said rocker.

19,. In a system for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion, the combination of a rocking lever, a driven wheel and a belt operatively connecting said rocking lever with said wheel, means for varying the speed of said belt by automatically varying [the length of said rocking lever.

'20:. In a system for converting reciprocat ing motion into rotary motion, the combination of a rocking lever, a driven wheel, a belt operatively connecting said rocking lever with said driven wheel, means for automatically varying the length of said rocking lever and means for adjusting said belt to the variations of said lever;

21. In a system for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion, the combination of a rocking lever, a driven wheel, a belt operatively connecting said rocking lever with said driven wheel and means for varying the length of said rocking lever as its speed is varied.

22. In a system for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion, the combination of a rocking lever, a driven wheel, a belt operatively connecting said rocking lever with said driven wheel and means for increasing the length of said rocking lever as its speed is increased.

23. In a system for converting reciprocattion of a rocking lever to which power is applied, a driven wheel, a belt operatively connectin said rocking lever with said driven wieel and means for varying the gear ratio between said rocking lever and said driven wheel as the resistance of said driven wheel varies.

25. In a system for transmitting mechanical motion, the combination of a moving member to which power is applied, a rotary driven member, a single operative connection between said members and a pneumatioally operated device associated with one of said members for varying the gear ratio between them.

26. In a system for transmitting mechanical motion, the combination of a moving member to which power is applied, a rotary member, a belt operatively connecting fixed points of said moving member with said rotary member whereby said moving member drives said rotary member and means including an idler pulley for releasing said belt when the speed on said rotary member exceeds the speed of said moving member.

27. In a system of the class described comprising a pivoted driving member and a driven member, means operatively connecting said members, a tightener engaging said means, a driving lever connected with said driving member, said driving lever adjust ably connected with said tightener.

28. In a system of the class described comprising a pivoted driving member and a driven member, means operatively connecting Jfixed points on said driving member with said driven member, a device for regulating said connecting means and means associated with .saiddriving member for controlling said device.

29. In a system of the class described comprising a driving member and a driven member, means operatively connecting said driving member to drive said driven member at varying gear ratios, a device for regulating said connecting means and means whereby a proportional part of the power operating said driving member controls said device.

MATTHEW H. LOUGHRIDGE. 

